Performance evaluation of three coconut cracking devices and comparison with conventional cracking technique

Performance of three coconut cracking devices; punch-split, impact-split, hydraulic-split were carried out and their comparison with conventional (hand cracking technique) evaluated. Each cracking technique was evaluated for capacity, efficiency, ergonomics, and time required to crack a unit of different coconut grades.  The results showed that the average cracking efficiency for punch-split was 87.09 percent with a range of 86.76 to 95.00 percent, impact-split efficiency varied from 83.33 to 95.00 percent with the average of 90.08 percent while hydraulic-split varied from 90.00 to 95.00 percent. Comparing the performances of the three techniques with the conventional technique, the cracking efficiency varied from 86.67% to 100% with an average of 94.17 percent, indicating the devices compares favorably with the conventional technique.  The convention cracking has the least output capacity of 110.09 kg hr-1 compared with the hydraulic-split with highest average capacity of 383.83 kg hr-1.  The output capacity varied for differentgrades of coconut with the hydraulic-split having the highest capacity of 389.33 kg hr-1 for grade B coconuts, while the conventional method has the lowest for grade D coconuts.  Ergonomically, the hydraulic-split device compared favorably with other devices in risk factors, loading, operation, product handling and management.